Knicks On Guard

1994 NBA Draft

June 26, 1994

NO MATTER what happens, the point guard situation will have to be addressed by New York. If Doc Rivers recovers from knee surgery, it will make little sense to keep three experienced point guards - Derek Harper, Rivers and Greg Anthony. Perhaps Anthony and Anthony Mason will be packaged in a deal. Perhaps Rivers will go once he shows the league he is healthy. Yet, if the Knicks are going to win a championship, they need to do it quickly.

''We're going to do what we do every summer, and that is make every attempt to get better,'' Knicks President Dave Checketts said. ''We know where we are weak.'' New York is weak on the offensive end. The difficult part will be to improve that area without weakening the Knicks' defensive identity. Look for three names to surface in the next few weeks - Golden State's Chris Mullin, Atlanta's Danny Manning and the Los Angeles Clippers' Dominique Wilkins. The Knicks have expressed an interest in all three players in the past.

SPURS DELAY SEARCH

SAN ANTONIO General Manager Gregg Popovich has delayed his search for a coach until after the draft. Despite reports that Popovich would pursue Golden State's Don Nelson or Seattle's George Karl, neither club was contacted for permission to talk to the Spurs. Popovich said he contacted just one team for permission to talk to the coach - it's believed to be Boston and Chris Ford - and was turned down. Don't be surprised if former Portland coach Rick Adelman is contacted after the draft.